Herrick Center – John Opeka was drowned in Lowe Lake, Feb. 14. Mr. Opeka bought the Davis farm, which borders the lake, about 3 years ago. He was engaged in putting up ice, and went to the lake alone after dinner, leaving his sons busy at the ice-house. When they finished they looked down to the lake and seeing nothing of their father went down and found his body near the shore, in about 7 ft. of water. He had broken through the thin ice, which had formed where the ice had been cut. He leaves a wife and sons John, Anthony, Frank, Paul and William and two daughters, Mary and Fannie at home. John was born in Austria fifty-one years ago and located in Forest City, when a young man.

South Montrose – Fire completely destroyed the large general store of Frank E. Barron on Sunday morning. Flames were seen shooting from the basement by a neighbor. An alarm brought out all the men of the vicinity, who formed a bucket brigade and succeeded in saving the nearby buildings, but the store and sheds attached were burned, together with practically all the contents. M.L. Lake & Son had an office in the building and were losers in the fire. Mr. Barron conducted the post-office and all the books, stamps, etc. were found in good condition in a safe. The Lehigh Valley station, also located in the burned building, met with some loss.

Rush – O.L. Devine will have a sale of personal property and stock at his farm. Mr. Devine and family will move to Battle Creek, Iowa, next month, where he has secured employment with his brother, Charles Warner, formerly of Montrose.

Susquehanna – The building known as Gettie’s bakery and owned by Mrs. Ella Matthews of Grand street, caught fire about 11:30 Monday night and the resulting damage totals up to about $3000. William Gettie conducted a bakery on the first floor, the second floor being occupied by James Brown and sister, Miss Kate Brown. Smoke and flames trapped Miss Brown until State Trooper Graves and Thomas A. Keefe reached a second story window and rescued her. Firemen were greatly delayed by a frozen hydrant.

Friendsville – The ladies of the Red Cross Knitting Circle have, to date, completed 19 sweaters, 22 pairs of socks and 13 pairs of wristlets, and are calling for more yarn. The financial condition of our organization is excellent and our list of members continues to grow slowly, but surely.

Gibson – Mr. and Mrs. Ward Craft are moving to Iowa this week and will be accompanied by Guy Craft. We are sorry to lose these industrious people from our community, but hope to see Guy come back to us soon.

Forest City – Frank P. Flora appeared before the naturalization court at Scranton and renounced all allegiance to Victor Emanuel and all other kinds, princes and potentates of the Italian government.

Uniondale – The ice industry was a large asset to the community a few years ago but nothing has been done owning largely to the excessive freight rates on the railroad.

Clifford – This community needs a physician and a blacksmith. A good location, in the midst of a prosperous farming community.

Hop Bottom – Our Boy Scouts have shoveled wide paths across the main street, in a good many places, and walks where people were unable to clean them off, thus improving the looks of the town.

Dimock – The large Winans stone quarry, it is said, will again re-open about March 1st, if the weather permits, after a long delay. ALSO D. V. Shaw, who is getting along in years and drives the kid wagon, seems to stand the extreme cold weather good, for a man of his age, not missing a single trip this winter.

Franklin Forks – There was no school today on account of the illness of our teacher, Miss Mae Smith.  We hope for her speedy recovery.

New Milford – The first of the week several residents on the north end of Main street noticed that teamsters, who were hauling ice from the creamery pond, were abusing their teams. It is said they would put nearly four tons of ice on a load and then lash their teams across bare spots in the road. They were reported to their employer who soon put a stop to such treatment. The loads were made lighter and the teams were doubled over the bare spots. There is a law against the abuse of dumb animals and it is everyone’s duty to report such cases.

East Lynn, Springville Twp. – The Valentine social held at Stark Miller’s was a financial success. The proceeds, which were $46.25, are to be used for the benefit of the Red Cross.

Montrose – The death of Augustus Pettibone Bush occurred here on Feb. 1, 1918. He was born in Bridgewater Twp. 90 years ago. His wife, Elizabeth Jackson Bush, died April 10, 1915. Augustus became an almost helpless invalid by a stroke of paralysis in the summer of 1882. He moved to Montrose and had resided here since. He was the son of Adrian and Amy Kellum Bush, the former being a son of Caleb Bush (1755-1821), a Revolutionary soldier, who came from Litchfield county, Connecticut in 1809 and purchased 500 acres of timber land in North Bridgewater. The latter was a daughter of Luther Kellum (1760-1846) who came from Stonington, Conn., and when but 16 years old entered the Revolutionary army, serving three years.

200 Years Ago from the Montrose Centinel, February 21, 1818.

*MELANCHOLY CATASTROPHE. On Thursday last, the house of Wm. B. Welch, in Springville township, was consumed by fire, and dreadful to relate, two of his children were burnt in it one of whom was entirely consumed, and the other died in the course of the day. The parents of the children were from home, and the house was set on fire by the children’s playing with that destructive element. This should be a warning to all parents not to leave small children alone.  We understand Mr. Welch lost all his furniture and provisions.

*MARRIED.  On Thursday last by Joshua W. Raynsford, Esq., Mr. Jason Potter to Miss Carissa Tyler.

LOST. On Thursday last between the village of Montrose and Jonathan West’s on the Milford & Owego turnpike, an old fashioned English Watch, marked on the back J.D. Any person who may find said watch and will return it to the subscriber in Choconut township, or the Editor of this paper, shall be handsomely rewarded. JOHN LOCKE.

Choconut, Jan. 31st, 1818. [John Locke was a Revolutionary War soldier who resided in Choconut Township. The late Dayton Birchard, a number of years ago, restored his grave marker.]